考研英语阅读篇章巴西学生和美国退休老人练趣味口语

　　篇章：巴西学生和美国退休老人练趣味口语

　　An innovative new language exchange program is helping Brazilian students practice their English while brightening up the often solitary lives of elderly American retirees.

　　有一个创意十足的语言交流项目， 不仅帮助了许多巴西学生练习英语口语，同时还点亮了美国退休老人孤独的老年生活。

　　In this Speaking Exchange project, Brazilian students were paired up with seniors at Windsor Park Retirement Community in Chicago.

　　在这一口语交流项目中，巴西学生和美国芝加哥温莎公园退休社区的老人结成对子。

　　In a video showing how the program works, the pairs carry on conversations via video chat, discussing their families, hobbies, pasts and futures - and forming special bonds in the process.

　　视频中展示了这一项目的进行方式，学生和老人通过视频聊天窗口进行对话交流，聊彼此的家人、爱好、过去和未来，这样二者在对话的过程中建立了一种特殊的联系。

　　One such pair is a young boy in Brazil who smiles as he speaks with an elderly American man. The man is seen holding up a black-and-white photo of a couple and showing it to his video pen pal.

　　在其中的一个案例中，有个巴西小男孩在和视频中的美国老人对话时保持微笑，而老人则拿出了一对夫妇的黑白照片给小男孩看。

　　This is your dad? asks the boy. The man responds: That s me and my wife when we were young!

　　这是你父亲吗?男孩问道。老人回答说，这是我和妻子年轻时候的照片。

　　Oh you were good-looking when you were younger, says the boy. And you re still good-looking!

　　哇，你年轻的时候很帅气呢!男孩说，嗯，你现在也很帅。

　　Another exchange takes place between an older American woman and a female student, who tells her about her family life.

　　还有一个语言交流的案例中，一名女学生给一位美国老太太讲述了自己和家庭生活的故事。

　　I live with my older brother. He has 23 years, she says. The lady responds patiently: Do you know instead of saying, He has 23 years, you could say, He is 23 years old.

　　我和哥哥住在一起，他23岁了。女生说道。老太太非常耐心地指导她：你知道吗，想说他23岁了，你应该用He is 23 years old. 而不是 He has 23 years old.

　　Joanna Monteiro, the executive creative director at FCB Brazil, told AdWeek: The idea is simple and it s a win-win proposition for both the students and the American senior citizens.

　　乔安娜蒙泰罗是巴西CNA语言学校的创意总监，她告诉《广告周刊》记者：这个创意非常简单，对于巴西学生和美国老年市民来说是一种双赢。

　　It s exciting to see their reactions and contentment. It truly benefits both sides, she added.

　　她补充道，看到他们彼此之间的反应和满意的表情，这非常令人激动。这一项目对双方真的都很有益。

　　To help the students improve, the video conversations are recorded, allowing teachers to review them and critique their language.

　　为帮助学生改进口语，视频对话的过程被录制下来，老师则通过回顾视频内容对学生的口语做出评价。